[News] S.M. the Ballad to Feature Taeyeon for Two Songs in New Album, ‘Breath’

On February 4th, Taeyeon posted a photo on her Instagram account with a caption telling fans about her feature in S.M. the Ballad’s new album. The caption reads, “I’m overflowing with emotions, thinking of letting you listen to a new song for the first time in a while. ‘Breath’ that I sang together with Jonghyun. And my first solo song that isn’t an OST, ‘Set me free’. Please look forward to it. I’ll see you next week”.

It has also been revealed that the Korean version of the “Breath” track will be released on February 10th and that “Set Me Free” will be released on February 12th through major online music portals in Korea. Finally, Taeyeon and Jonghyun will perform “Breath” on Mnet’s “M! Countdown” on February 13th.

[News] SM The Ballad to Return in February

Great news for SM fans as the agency announced the return of SM The Ballad, adding yet another strong comeback in the month of February. On February 3, SM sources spoke with My Daily and said, “SM The Ballad is planning to come back in February. They are currently in the last stages of preparation.”

SM The Ballad is a project group without fixed members but has a rotation of artists who specialize in vocals and have a strong presence in the ballad genre. The SM source added, “The members of the past will not be in the group but this time, members from Super Junior, Girls’ Generation, SHINee, f(x) and EXO will participate.”

[Other] Taeyeon Answers Questions from Fans on Instagram

In the early morning of January 25th, Taeyeon posted the photo on her Instagram account and chatted with fans for a little bit before heading off to sleep. The caption of her picture reads, “I miss you my baby my baby”. Her comments and answers, as well as the translations (in italics) of the replies written in Korean can be found below.

Taeyeon: 뭐다들 이렇게 일찍자 내일 쉬는날아니에요? 불금에 뭐하는거야(Why are you all sleeping so early. Don’t you have tomorrow off? What are you doing on a Hot Friday)

Translator’s note: “Hot Friday” is similar to the common saying, “Thank God It’s Friday”.

Taeyeon: 어바웃타임안봤어요/청승떨며 음악들어요 노을-그리워그리워/눈썹가방에있다어쩔래(I haven’t seen ‘About Time’/I’m acting miserable listening to music, Noel – ‘I Miss You’/My eyebrows are in my bag, what are you going to do about it)

Editor’s note: “About Time” is a recent movie.

Taeyeon: 프로즌봤죠/밝기9아니고 자연광이야멍츙아^^/지금옆에아무도없어/눈썹타투는얼어죽을/프린스가날싫어하는게아니라미치도록좋아하는거임 외사랑/별그대안봐요(I’ve seen ‘Frozen’/The brightness isn’t at 9, it’s natural light you dummy^^/Nobody’s next to me right now/Eyebrow tattoos, yeah right/Prince doesn’t dislike me, but I like him like crazy. One-sided love/I don’t watch ‘You Who Came From the Stars’)

Editor’s note: “Frozen” is a recent movie. The “brightness” she’s referring to is her phone camera settings. “You Who Came From the Stars” is a drama that’s currently ongoing.

Taeyeon: 프린스가좋아요진져가좋아요???????/렛잇고재미없어 곧내노래들려줄게여/긴거가아니고진져/보통탱시전후로자요/아직도키드립이니누구야너(Do you like Prince or Ginger???????/’Let It Go’ is boring. I’ll let you hear my song soon/It’s not Gingeo, but Ginger/I usually sleep before or after Taeng o’clock/Are you still talking about height. Who are you)

At yesterday’s “28th Golden Disk Awards”, Girls’ Generation received both the Popularity Award and a Disk Bonsang award for “I Got A Boy”. The night began with Taeyeon and Tiffany at the red carpet for the event, where the two posed for photos with Oh Sangjin, their co-host for the latter half of the show.

In the first half of the “28th Golden Disk Awards”, Girls’ Generation was awarded the Popularity Award. Taeyeon and Tiffany accepted the award on behalf of Girls’ Generation, thanking fans for voting. Taeyeon, Tiffany, and Oh Sangjin then hosted the second half of the show, where Girls’ Generation received a Disk Bonsang for “I Got A Boy”. Yuri and Sooyoung appeared on stage to accept the Disk Bonsang for Girls’ Generation and were joined by Taeyeon and Tiffany. Yuri and Sooyoung thanked fans, the staff of SM Entertainment, Lee Sooman, and their managers during their award speech. Other Disk Bonsang winners included SHINee, f(x), EXO, Infinite, B1A4, Cho Yongpil, and BEAST.

Other members of Girls’ Generation unable to attend the event celebrated Girls’ Generation’s win through social networking sites. Sunny gave her thanks to fans during her Instagram chat session and Jessica left a message in the comment section of her latest photo on Weibo, saying, “congrats s♥ne”.

Taeyeon, Tiffany, Yuri, and Sooyoung’s appearance at the “28th Golden Disk Awards” may be seen below. Taeyeon and Tiffany’s acceptance speech for the Popularity Award begins at 0:14, while Yuri and Sooyoung’s acceptance speech for the Disk Bonsang begins at 21:43.

[Interview] ‘CeCi’ Magazine Features Taeyeon for a Photoshoot and Interview

When asked to choose who I wanted to meet from Girls’ Generation, my choice was always Taeyeon. Because her subtle, yet powerful voice was the strong first impression from a group called Girls’ Generation. 2014 makes 8 years for Girls’ Generation. They opened up a new chapter in the Korean music industry, and, rather than remaining in the generation they created, they wanted challenges. While none are teens anymore, they’re still relentless. They have been pulling in everything possible as Girls’ Generation’s territory and have been building up a large, solid fortress. When there is word about a comeback, it is said their next steps will decide Girls’ Generation’s future. However, no matter what the appearance of their comeback, nothing would be weird. Among lively members who are overflowing with personality, Taeyeon always quietly stayed a step back. Doing what she likes by singing & sharing loving looks with her fans: it feels like that is how she spends her time. White skin almost transparent, baby-like smiling eyes, but she is a bit secretive. What might be in her heart? On the first day of raging sleet this winter, I met Taeyeon. She hesitated quite a bit, trying and trying not to show her feelings. However, I didn’t want to rush her. Because there had to be something valuable about her that didn’t need to be shown easily. 26 year-old Taeyeon is currently going through her most beautiful time right now.

CeCi: Compared to other members, you don’t have many individual activities. I hope this ‘CeCi’ cover photoshoot is considered as a coveted item by fans.Taeyeon: This is my first time as a solo cover model, so it’s really interesting. Each Girls’ Generation member has done their own versions of cover shoots, and we really didn’t know anything at the time. Since there have been many cases where members were cover models for separate magazines, I can tell how great this is.

CeCi: You haven’t done as many photoshoots as I thought.Taeyeon: To be honest, there has been a time when getting my photo taken felt rather difficult. There have been a lot of times where I’ve declined photoshoot schedules because, for some reason, I didn’t have any self-confidence. However, I thought about when I would again be able to leave [a trace] of myself in my 20′s, if not now. I also thought about when else I would be able to show myself to mediums and fans when they want. In the past, I only wanted to sing songs I like the most. However, now, if it’s something that others can all take in and willingly enjoy, then I think it’s something I can do and feel that it is my job.

[Magazine] Taeyeon, Tiffany, and Seohyun Take Part in ‘Letters of Angels’

Girls’ Generation’s very own Taeyeon, Tiffany, and Seohyun took part in the annual “Letters of Angels” campaign, which brings attention to and supports domestic adoptions. This year’s photoshoot can be found in the December issue of “Elle” magazine, which also includes a separate pictorial with Sooyoung. Tiffany was featured in “Letters of Angels” back in 2011, and after working with her, project photographer Cho Seihon said, “Tiffany doesn’t just have a pretty face, but she’s a star with a pretty heart as well. After that, I look at Tiffany from a different light.” The translated messages the three ladies left for the 2013 campaign as well as commentary can be read below.

Taeyeon: Soft, pretty, and cute Eun-yi~ It was fun meeting you today. Continue to grow healthy. Grow up to be even more prettier than Girls’ Generation unnies. I love you

Seohyun: We spent a short, but happy time with our lovable Eun-yi~ I won’t forget this precious relationship~ Grow up to be pretty and healthy, and more admirably than your unnies~! I love you

Young angels waiting to be adopted, after being separated from adolescent ‘single parents’ who were not able to stand on their own, met with 10 of this generation’s hottest idol teams. The reason why photographer Cho Seihon called for these angels to stand in front of the camera was to open people’s eyes to the value of life and show that there are things that need our warm attention. Cho Seihon’s eleventh ‘Letters of Angels’ story, headed with an ‘innocent’ theme similar to that of idols’ eyes, will be exhibited early through ‘Elle’.

Taeyeon: I tried not to be different from the previous movie. I took out playfulness because Margo is a reliable first child. I just acted like me. Something like a simple and composed older sister.Seohyun: Edith is a little brat and a punk, just like a boy. The fact that she is so playful makes her similar to me. I get really playful when I’m with a close unnie or friends. My facial expression turned into that of a brat when I was recording.

Wasn’t it hard acting out Margo, who was in love for the first time?

Taeyeon: I acted very blankly, using my experience of falling in love. Honestly, Antonio is not my type. Margo had many changes of emotions this time, so I had a variety of emotions to act out.

Is a boyfriend like Antonio not acceptable?

Seohyun: I’m sorry, but he is totally not acceptable. I don’t really like the greasy type. I wish he didn’t talk like that too.Taeyeon: I wish his eyes had a bit more focus. They’re always so blank.

What directions did the audio director give?

Taeyeon: He asked me to be a bit more cheerful because there were times when I sounded too mature.Seohyun: I sometimes sounded too young when trying to act Edith’s young voice. Every time I did that, the director asked me to get a bit older. It was comfortable and familiar working with the director because he was the same director from the previous movie.

Continuing on from the original film, Taeyeon and Seohyun were in charge of the voice acting for Margo and Edith in “Despicable Me 2″. The oldest, Margo, who nagged and frugally took care of her younger sisters, has already greeted adolescence with heartaches over her first love. Edith had grown into a tomboy, learning all sorts of sports and martial arts. When asked one thing, Taeyeon and Seohyun would exchange a bundle of chatter. Despite the passed time, like the unruly sisters in “Despicable Me”, the Taeyeon and Seohyun who we met three years later through Cine21’s magazine were still bright and innocent girls.

You’re taking part in the sequel after the first film.

Seohyun: I used to think, ‘We’re going to do the next series, too!’, so it was really nice when they called for us again. Edith had become an even more mischievous girl.Taeyeon: Wouldn’t the audience dislike the change in an unchanged character’s voice? Margo fell in love and became more mature.

What do you think about guys like Margo’s first love, Antonio?

Taeyeon: He’s a bit far from my ideal type. (laughs) I wish he’d be less greasy. When Antonio’s hair flutters, his flirtiness and charms also fly with it.

Taeyeon and Seohyun were recently interviewed on “Mnet Wide News” about their promotions for “Despicable Me 2″, including the opening pitch ceremony they participated in several weeks ago.

The program shows clips of Taeyeon and Seohyun’s recent appearance at the premiere of “Despicable Me 2”, interspersed with clips of the two in the middle of voice-acting and introducing their characters in the movie, Margo and Agnes.

The two also speak a bit about how fond they are of the “minions”, which the program highlights with a clip of the Instagram video Taeyeon took of a set of minions who greeted Girls’ Generation at Incheon Airport.

The program then transitions into Taeyeon and Seohyun’s recent appearance as part of the opening pitch ceremony for an LG Twins baseball game. Seohyun mentions, “Honestly, I was more nervous than [Taeyeon] was. Where was she going to throw it? She wasn’t going to throw it at my face, was she?” Taeyeon playfully brushes off the accuracy of her pitch, referring to it as a “shot-pitch” and comments, “At least I didn’t plant it in the ground~”.

The girls are then asked a series of miscellaneous questions, such as “Who is the messiest member in the dorm?”, and “Who takes the best ‘funny’ pictures?” For the first question, Taeyeon singles herself out as the messiest, commenting that she has a dog who likes to run around and mess things up. Meanwhile, Seohyun selects Tiffany, reasoning that her family’s home in the United States is very far away, so her stuff tends to pile up.

For the second question, both members reply that out of all the Girls’ Generation members, Sooyoung takes the funniest pictures, and that Sooyoung has angles and facial muscles that the other members didn’t even know existed.

Taeyeon and Seohyun have reprised their roles as Margo and Edith, respectively, in the Korean dubbed version of “Despicable Me 2″. This clip from KBS2′s “Entertainment Weekly” features f(x)’s Sulli choosing Taeyeon as the best-looking female idol. Taeyeon’s pitching and Seohyun’s batting for the LG Twins baseball team is also discussed, with Taeyeon commenting that she wanted to overcome the pitch-to-the-ground scenario that has become Girls’ Generation’s trademark; she thought she wouldn’t be able to throw it far enough, but she ended up overshooting home plate.